Rivals (Sequel To Pitcher)

Stories

Abigail POV

"Tell me another story." I was shocked by how much my voice sounded like a little child, anxious and jubilant. That was one of the odd things that had happened, when I was around him I had a tendency of feeling like we were just a couple of little kids, unsure what to do or what our futures held. Austin had his left arm wrapped around me, I began to fiddle with his 2009 College World Series Ring. 

"About what, my love?" Austin lightly stroked my shoulder, we were in the backseat of Cameron's car, Austin had become so well favored by the guys that he was starting to be accepted as one of our own players. 

"About Louisiana, when you were younger with Aaron." I loved these stories they had always made me laugh. The only issue was the fact that for some reason even at the slightest mention of Aaron's name, something hurt inside, deep inside. Maybe regret, maybe anger or maybe just plain memory. But I was happy with Austin and that was all that mattered. It seemed like Aaron was happy with that Ginger girl so it wasn't like he was all alone. 

"Yesssss please do, except the kissing and flirting down to a minimum, it's getting hard to not barf when you two get like that." Cody fussed from the seat beside me, I had forgotten how miserable this must be for the boys and immediately felt the slightest bit guilty. "I don't understand why Odubel gets to sit in the front and not me! It's not fair!" 

"We made a deal, Asche, whichever one of us gets the more hits in a game gets the front seat and I got 3 hits and you got 2. So deal!" Odubel sounded so proud and triumphant over his victory which made me feel even guiltier. 

"Not my fault this shortstop is so damn adorable!" I said kissing Austin lightly on the lips.

"Ewwwww, will you two please stop it with the kissing in the back, while it may be fun for you, it is not enjoyable for me." 

"Sorry Cody." Austin and I both paused and apologized. 

"Anyway, I'll tell all y'all a story. There was one year, one year in both of our careers where we were teammates, Aaron and I. It was at LSU my senior year, his freshman year..." 

Austin POV

They wanted to hear a story, something to entertain them as we attempted to make the long, nerve-racking car ride from LAX to where Dodger Stadium was for the Phillies first postseason game. Abigail had begun fiddling more and more with my ring lately. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she was thinking more about success lately now that she has joined the postseason. Although I had won the ring in the College World Series, not the professional world series, it was still a pretty big deal.  I had won it in 2009 nine for LSU before Aaron joined me on my team, it was the start of a long complex confusing career. 

I sighed as I recalled the long story from years ago.

7 Years Earlier

***

Aaron took a deep breath, it was a shaky breath, he was anxious. Typically I was the one panicked and he was the one who was calm and chill. ut now it made sense for him to be so distracted and nervous and me not to. He had one of the biggest games of his llife ahead of him. Our parents were sitting in the front row, searching for us. But we were in the dugout. I put my hadn lightly on my younger brother's pitching shoulfer . He turned his head and looked up at me, smiling lightly. 

"Mom and dad are here." He mentioned quietly, I had nevre seen him so quiet. Even for him, this was quiet. 

"You can ba a bit more excited ."

"I'm nervous, okay? Gosh Austin!"  He raised his voice, which is more rare than a blizzard in Louisiana. 

"Sorry, baby brother, forgot you get so sensitive. Toughen up." I playfully punched him, a bad mistake, he shoved me and glared.

"I'll forgive you if you  make up for it by making a double play and get an rbi for me out there for me today." My brother looked anxious. 

"I'll do my best, but don't you go counting on me. You can do this Aaron, you're my brother." He nodded and got ready to go onto the field. It was Aaron's debut qand i had nevr seen him so uncomfortable. But as soon as he was on that mound, he was alive. His pitches were the way they always had been. 

Later in the game a batter hit a sharp grounder to me at shortstop, there was a runner was on firs. The look on Aarons face read pure terror the second he heard the sound of the bat hitting the ball. In that moment I realized that i ahd to be the stong tough brave older brother for my little brother. I dove for the ball, I dove the hardest I had evre imagined I could dive in my life. I got rid of the ball quickly and carefully to make sure it got to second on time and at the right spot. My hand stung from making the bplay on a hard hit ball but we got the doublle play, so it was worth it. 

After the game i took my little brother to New Orleans for the first time, I gotta say, I had never seen Aaron look so horrifeied in my whole life. You woudl not have thought he just won his LSU pitching debut. He hid behind me for awhile and seemed so uncomfortabkle in the wild city. If you think about it that wasnt his normall environment. But then eventually, he warmed up to it and before he knew it, he was laughing and celebrating, he even had a sip of moonshine.  I had never seen my little brotehr having more fun than the amount he was having now. 

That was the first of many trips to New Orlans, it became or typical celebration location.

***

"So that is how much I used to care about my little brother and the story of the first time he saw a real city." I finished and Abby looked up at me and smiled, she brought her lips to mine. 

"I wish I could  love my brother that much." She said a bit more frustrated than I had expected. 

"It never lasts, I mean look at Aaron and I now, we hate each other." 

"No you don't." Was all Abigail said back.